An inspirational schoolboy from Renfrew who lost his uncle to a sudden cardiac arrest has been named as a Heart Hero at a star-studded awards ceremony after raising thousands of pounds in his memory.
Newmains Primary pupil Connor Beck scooped the Young Heart Hero accolade at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Heart Hero Awards 2022 in London in recognition of his remarkable efforts to support the nation’s heart charity.
Connor was inspired to fundraise after his family was left devastated by the death of his beloved uncle John Clark, who died in 2019 at the age of 34, while he was on holiday in the United States.
The 11-year-old has gone on to raise nearly £10,000 for the BHF and was presented with his trophy at the glittering ceremony hosted by TV personality Vernon Kay.
On receiving his award, Connor, said: “I am so, so happy. I cannot believe it. I was so surprised when my mum told me I had been nominated but to win is amazing.
“My Uncle John was kind, helpful and funny and I loved going to the football with him. He took me to see Celtic playing Barcelona and it was brilliant. I miss him a lot. I hope this would make him happy and proud.”
John had been a huge supporter of the British Heart Foundation during his lifetime.
In the months before his death, he and his friends had taken on the BHF’s Glasgow to Falkirk Trek – a 100km sponsored walk along the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals, from Scotland’s largest city via the iconic Falkirk Wheel to the capital.
And it was John’s love of the BHF and the lifesaving research that the charity funds, which prompted young Connor to come up with a fitting tribute to “keep my Uncle John’s spirit alive”.
Connor’s mum, Michelle Clark, says her brother’s death came as a huge shock to everyone.
“We just couldn’t believe it,” Michelle explained.
“Within minutes your life can just change and that is what happened to our family. We had no indication, no warning, there were no symptoms. John had flown to America for a wedding and while he was there had a sudden, fatal cardiac arrest. One minute he was here and the next he was gone.
“When these things happen you don’t know how to cope, nothing in life prepares you for losing someone, especially so young. Then about nine months after John passed away, we were thinking of ways to pay tribute to his memory and that is when Connor came up with his fundraising idea.
“ He came home from school and said he wanted to do a sponsored cycle to mark what would have been John’s 35th birthday. So that’s how it all started, with Connor cycling 35km, finishing up on September 19th – John’s birthday. He raised more than £3,000 and he’s not stopped fundraising since.”
Last year, the youngster swapped his bike for hiking boots for his latest challenge, taking on Scotland’s most popular long distance walking route – the 154km West Highland Way.
Starting in the north of Glasgow and ending in Fort William, the trek is a challenge for the fittest of adults, but at aged just nine-years-old Connor, accompanied by his dad Brian, other family members and his friend Evan McCrone, walked the route in stages over five weekends, completing the challenge once again on John’s birthday.
“The hills on the West Highland Way are steep and really rocky,” recalls Connor. “There were some really high bits and it did take a long time to do. It was a very hard challenge but probably my favourite one.”
The whole community supported Connor’s incredible fundraising efforts – and the youngster’s achievements have even been praised in the Scottish Parliament.
When he first started out, his aim was to raise £100.
To date, he has now raised almost £10,000 for the BHF’s lifesaving research to help the 700,000 people in Scotland affected by heart and circulatory diseases.
“We are so proud of him,” said Michelle. “From day one he was so determined – a bit like his Uncle John – so determined and so kind.
“He has kept the whole family together, the community together, John’s friends.
“Everyone has got involved and been a part of this. Connor wanted to do something to help us through the difficult times, to make John’s birthday less upsetting for us all and he has done that.
“We were going through the hardest time of our lives – and my parents still continue to go through that every day – and he’s kept us together.
“Everything Connor has done has shown just how much John was loved, the donations that have poured in, the messages of support – it has been so lovely.
“I can’t explain how proud we are of Connor, and we know John would be extremely proud of him too.”
Now in their fifth year, The BHF’s Heart Hero Awards, celebrate individuals of all ages who have shown immense strength in the face of adversity or have made a significant impact in helping those living with heart and circulatory diseases.
The emotionally-charged evening was extra poignant as it marked a return to a live awards ceremony for the first time in two years, since the Covid pandemic forced the event to go online.
David McColgan, head of BHF Scotland, added: “The support of our fabulous fundraisers means a great deal to us. Connor is one of those amazing fundraisers who makes us so proud and is thoroughly deserving of his BHF Young Heart Hero award.
“Taking on the challenges he has at such a young age is a remarkable achievement and to have raised so much for us along the way is outstanding.”
Connor is now planning his next fundraising challenge and has a special message for all those who have supported him so far.
He said: “To the people that have donated and helped me – thank you very much. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
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